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Hello Lovely:

Need a little you time? Totally, right?! But are you struggling to make it happen?

It’s totally normal to struggle to make time for yourself. 

You have a full plate! Work and responsibilities can easily fill up your schedule. But that doesn’t mean you can’t make time to destress and recharge those batteries. In fact, you kind of need to (you can’t pour from an empty cup after all).

Life is complicated, but self-care doesn’t have to be.

Self-care doesn’t have to be expensive or complicated and it definitely doesn’t always need to take up hours of your time.

Whether you’re a busy bee with no more than a few minutes to spare or just looking for some fun, there are relaxing options that you can do in the comfort of your own home. I’m sharing 5 awesome ones for you today! Let’s dive in!

You Need and Deserve You Time

It’s easy to make time to shower everyone around you with love and attention… but it’s also really easy to put your own well-being on the back burner. Hands up if you’ve been there!

How often do you really make time for yourself? How often do you prioritize time to relax, unwind and feel good?

If the answer isn’t “regularly” then you may want to re-evaluate, because taking care of yourself is about far more than bubble baths and massages. It’s about taking care of your mental and physical well-being. And that’s pretty darn important.

I know that we’re all pretty busy bees and sometimes the idea of making time for yet another thing (even if it’s you) can seem pretty daunting. But hear me out…

Here’s what can happen when you neglect your self-care needs:

• Increased feelings of anxiety and anger
• Feeling more distracted
• Increased Fatigue
• Reduced relationship satisfaction
• Lowered self-esteem
• Decreased feelings of empathy and compassion
• Increased risk of health issues like heart disease and depression

Self-care is also an important form of self-love.

When you love and care for yourself everything changes. You make choices from a loving place and do your best to protect and care for your own well-being as fiercely as you do for those around you.

And it doesn’t have to be expensive or even require that you leave your home. There are tons of cheap and easy activities you can easily tap into.

Here are some awesome options…

1. Colouring and Doodling

Pencil crayons aren’t just for kids yo! Colouring is super simple (no major art skills required). And you have so many awesome options available to you. Intricate, entrancing mandala’s, holiday themed goodies… even colouring books based on your favourite novels are all hanging out at the bookstore waiting for you.

And it’s more than just fun an games!

Colouring helps:

• Lower stress
• Foster creativity
• Increase relaxation
• Create a better night’s sleep

And hey, even if you skip the colouring books all together and doodle instead, you’re still winning baby!

Doodling has quite a bit of goodness to offer too:

• Helps you retain more information
• Brings your ideas to life
• Keeps you focused
• Reduces Stress

This is something anyone can do. And a wonderful option for parents! Take a little time to colour while your kids do the same – everyone’s hanging out and happy and you’re taking care of yourself too! Booyah!

Ready to give doodling and colouring a try? Here’s a bit more about why they’re so awesome.

2. Mindfulness Meditation

In theory, meditation is super easy. All you need to do is set aside a few minutes a day (it can be for as short of as long as you want). The sit still, breathe and quiet the mind.

The purpose of mindfulness meditation is to focus the mind on the present moment.

You can do this by focusing on a specific thought (like a mantra) or simply paying attention to your breathing. You can also focus simply on your body and its surroundings, centering your mind on your senses and the present moment.

But the funny thing is, as easy as it sounds, meditation can also be pretty damn hard. In a world where we are all constantly bombarded with information and tackling a never ending to do list, being in the present moment can be pretty freaking difficult.

But the good news is, practice makes perfect.

Mindfulness meditation is free and requires no equipment or investment. Anyone can give it a go and the more you do it the easier it will become.

And there’s tons to gain

Meditation can:

• Help to reduce anxiety
• Increase your focus
• Support your immune function
• Help to foster a healthy blood pressure
• Breed empathy

Does this feel right for you? Great! Let’s talk more about how meditation works and how to get started. You’ll definitely feel better for it!

3. Jump Rope Workout

Ok, I know you likely haven’t picked up a jump rope since you were little, but hear me out. This is a fantastically easy way to have fun and get a good workout (which is a total win in my books).

But here’s what you get when you enjoy a jump rope workout:

• Amazing cardiovascular support
• Healthier bones
• Improved balance, coordination and flexibility
• Tonned muscles
• Enjoyment and fun

Jump ropes are super cheap, easy to bring literally anywhere and require little skill to master. And did I mention it’s super fun? If you’re feeling it, let’s learn more about why jump ropes rock and what they have in store for you.

4. Do Nothing

We tend to exist in a constant state of go, go, go. 

Finding ways to relax and do nothing can totally benefit you. A relaxing bath, daydreaming, meditating, sitting in your back yard soaking in the great outdoors… whatever form of doing nothing is right for you, do that!

We all need to disconnect and relax sometimes. And it’s an easy thing to forget to do. But you are not meant to be in a constant state of doing; your brain needs a break from time to time.

Doing nothing is good for:

• Reconnecting with yourself
• Reflecting and examining thoughts and emotions
• Increasing attention span and focus
• Breeding creativity

Doing nothing may seem like a silly thing to make time for, but it’s actually a really important to prioritize. Sometimes it’s the best thing that you can do for yourself.

Into adding ‘doing nothing’ to your to do list? Let’s talk more about it right here.

5. Dry Body Brush

I love this one because it’s awesomeness is two fold.

Dry brushing is amazing for your skin and a great way to exfoliate.

A dry brush will loosen up your dead skin cells and sweep them away, leaving you with gorgeously soft skin. And dude… if feels amazing. Awesome, right?

But this is also a fantastic time to work on self-love and shush your inner mean girl.

Because in order to get the most out of dry brushing, you gotta get naked. Dry brushing really forces you to get in touch with your body and focus on areas you may often hate on. It’s the perfect opportunity to pay attention to those areas, change your perspective and be kind to yourself.

Try to combine dry brushing with positive affirmations while you focus on areas you normally hate on.

Try affirmations like:

• “You love and honour your body”
• “You’re beautiful as you are”
• “You accept yourself as you are”

There’s a reason why I wrote them all in the third person, you can find out why (and a ton more about affirmations) right there.

It may be strange at first, but after a while it will help to change your perceptions about yourself and your relationship with your amazing, beautiful body.

What’s in it for you when you pick up a dry brush?

• Self-love and body positivity
• Boosted confidence and self-esteem
• Lymphatic and circulatory support
• Soft, smooth skin

Down to give it a go? Here’s how you can get started.

Final Thoughts

Stress is a normal part of life and, in small amounts, it can even be healthy. But it’s so important that we know how to recognize, manage and treat stress – especially when it comes on strong.

Part of that is making time to take care of yourself. Even if you only have a few minutes. You are worthy of self-care. And, when you take time to recharge those batteries, everyone benefits. Remember, when you take care of yourself you’re not saying me first, you’re saying me too.

Now it’s your turn! What would you add to the list? Anything you’re excited to try? Let me know in the comments below.

Health and love,

Thought of the day: My own well-being is a priority – I am worthy of the same love and care that I give to others.

Need help? Here’s a free self-care planner to get you started.

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